Haematological parameters of the otrich (Struthio camelus)

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Abstract
Haematological reference values according to age and sex, were obtained from healthy ostriches (Struthio camelus) held under intensive conditions. Erythrocytic parameters and indices demonstrated an age‐related trend: the packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte count were lowest in ostriches of 1 to 3 months of age. The mean corpuscular volume increased with age until adulthood. No sex‐linked differences were demonstrated in regard to the erythrocytic parameters. Leukocyte counts were higher in younger ostriches; changes also being detected in the differential count with age. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was both sex‐ and age‐related. Young birds had the fastest rate of sedimentation and females had a faster rate than males.